• 17
  • August
    2011

We are a society that respects celebrities. For better or worse, when a celebrity voices his or her opinion, we listen. Movie stars throughout California have learned that they have free reign to say and do whatever they want, and in many situations, their actions do not receive the negative consequences they should.

Unfortunately, we've also started giving international celebrities the same attention, and - like celebrities here - they do not always use their status to support good causes.

Recently, Jeremy Irons spoke out against sexual harassment laws, saying women should simply put up with men who touch them inappropriately.

Irons stated, "If a man puts his hand on a woman's bottom, any woman worth her salt can deal with it. It's communication. Can't we be friendly?"

He is clearly missing the point. Few people would argue that touching a woman's bottom would be enough to make her go crazy. However, actions like that almost always create a hostile work environment, not only for the woman who is being subjected to the touching, but also to other people who witness the interaction.

In California, it is illegal for a boss to request sexual favors quid pro quo, or in exchange for something else. However, if a boss interacts with an employee in a sexual way - even if it's discreet - the employee may fear that rejecting those advances could lead to retaliation.

Most women can tolerate a friendly slap on the bottom, if it is in the right environment. However, the workplace is never the appropriate environment for that interaction.

Source: Yahoo, "Irons slams political correctness," Press Association, Aug. 19, 2011